UN Women
1st January 2011 saw the launch of UN Women – the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Up till then the UN’s support for the world’s women had been split between four smaller entities – this marks a new start under a bigger umbrella.

Lesley Abdela is a journalist, women’s right activist and consultant on gender in international development with countries coming out of conflict. She has worked in over 40 countries, most recently Sierra Lieone, Iraq and Nepal. She talked to Cathy Aitchison about how UN Women had come about and what effect it might have for the world’s women.

There was also a debate in Parliament in the week of International Women’s Day, initiated by the Conservative MP for Epping Forest, Eleanor Laing. She spoke to Cathy Aitchison about the debate and about her hopes for UN Women.